The invention presents a near-infrared photothermal coupling curing non-oxide ceramic slurry, along with its preparation method and application. The ceramic slurry consists of various raw materials, with weight fractions as follows: non-oxide ceramic powder (40?90 parts), photosensitive resin (0.5?20 parts), photosensitive monomer (1?40 parts), photoinitiator (0.25?4 parts), thermal initiator (0.25?4 parts), additive (0.75?5 parts), and up-conversion luminescent material (0.5?4 parts). The non-oxide ceramic powders can include Si.sub.3N.sub.4, TiN, BN, AlN, SiC, WC, TiC, ZrC, TiB.sub.2, and ZrB.sub.2. By combining the photochemical and photothermal dual curing system using near-infrared up-conversion, this invention addresses the issue of insufficient curing encountered in single photocuring or thermal curing processes. Moreover, by incorporating near-infrared light source-driven additive manufacturing, it enables rapid prototyping of high-solid-content non-oxide ceramic slurry, ultimately allowing for the fabrication of high-fidelity non-oxide ceramic structures.

An upconversion nanoparticle includes at least one host selected from LiYF.sub.4, NaY, NaYF.sub.4, NaGdF.sub.4, and CaF.sub.3, at least one sensitizer selected from Sm.sup.3+, Nd.sup.3+, Dy.sup.3+, Ho.sup.3+, and Yb.sup.3+ doped in the at least one host, and at least one activator selected from Er.sup.3+, Ho.sup.3+, Tm.sup.3+, and Eu.sup.3+ doped in the at least one host. The upconversion nanoparticle is designed using a calculation from first principles to absorb light in the near-infrared wavelength range whose stability is ensured. Further, a hyaluronic acid-upconversion nanoparticle conjugate, in which the upconversion nanoparticle as described above is bonded to hyaluronic acid, is provided to be used in various internal sites with a hyaluronic acid receptor, particularly enables targeting, and increases an internal retention period and biocompatibility thereof.

A scintillation crystal can include Ln.sub.(1-y)RE.sub.yX.sub.3, wherein Ln represents a rare earth element, RE represents a different rare earth element, y has a value in a range of 0 to 1, and X represents a halogen. In an embodiment, the scintillation crystal is doped with a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, or a mixture thereof, and the scintillation crystal is formed from a melt having a concentration of such elements or mixture thereof of at least approximately 0.02 wt. %. In another embodiment, the scintillation crystal can have unexpectedly improved proportionality and unexpectedly improved energy resolution properties. In a further embodiment, a radiation detection apparatus can include the scintillation crystal, a photosensor, and an electronics device. Such a radiation detection apparatus can be useful in a variety of applications.

The present invention provides a monodispersed lanthanum based upconverting microrods comprising NaYF.sub.4:Yb.sup.3+, Er.sup.3+ and NaYF.sub.4:Yb.sup.3+, Tm.sup.3+, capped with oleic acid. The upconverting microrods, embedded in polymer matrices is used for making security tags and for sensing application. The process of preparation of the oleic acid capped upconverting microrods is also disclosed.

A composition for photoluminescence of the chemical formula M.sub.2(1-y-z)Yb.sub.2yRem.sub.2zADO.sub.5-xF.sub.2x, a method for producing said composition, and uses of said composition are provided.

New methods and assays for multiplexed detection of analytes using phosphors that are uniform in morphology, size, and composition based on their unique optical lifetime signatures are described herein. The described assays and methods can be used for imaging or detection of multiple unique chemical or biological markers simultaneously in a single assay readout.

The invention provides novel biocompatible upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) that comprises a core of cubic nanocrystals (e.g., comprising -Na Ln.sub.a, Ln.sub.b Ln.sub.c F.sub.4) and an epitaxial shell (e.g., formed from CaF.sub.2; wherein Ln.sub.b is Yb), and related methods of preparation and uses thereof.

The present disclosure relates to a process for fabricating a crystalline scintillator material with a structure of elpasolite type of theoretical composition A.sub.2BC.sub.(1-y)M.sub.yX.sub.(6-y) wherein: A is chosen from among Cs, Rb, K, Na, B is chosen from among Li, K, Na, C is chosen from among the rare earths, Al, Ga, M is chosen from among the alkaline earths, X is chosen from among F, Cl, Br, I, y representing the atomic fraction of substitution of C by M and being in the range extending from 0 to 0.05, comprising its crystallization by cooling from a melt bath comprising r moles of A and s moles of B, the melt bath in contact with the material containing A and B in such a way that 2s/r is above 1. The process shows an improved fabrication yield. Moreover, the crystals obtained can have compositions closer to stoichiometry and have improved scintillation properties.

Monodisperse particles having: a single pure crystalline phase of a rare earth-containing lattice, a uniform three-dimensional size, and a uniform polyhedral morphology are disclosed. Due to their uniform size and shape, the monodisperse particles self assemble into superlattices. The particles may be luminescent particles such as down-converting phosphor particles and up-converting phosphors. The monodisperse particles of the invention have a rare earth-containing lattice which in one embodiment may be an yttrium-containing lattice or in another may be a lanthanide-containing lattice. The monodisperse particles may have different optical properties based on their composition, their size, and/or their morphology (or shape). Also disclosed is a combination of at least two types of monodisperse particles, where each type is a plurality of monodisperse particles having a single pure crystalline phase of a rare earth-containing lattice, a uniform three-dimensional size, and a uniform polyhedral morphology; and where the types of monodisperse particles differ from one another by composition, by size, or by morphology. In a preferred embodiment, the types of monodisperse particles have the same composition but different morphologies. Methods of making and methods of using the monodisperse particles are disclosed.

A process for treating a luminescent halogen-containing material includes contacting the luminescent halogen-containing material with an atmosphere comprising a halogen-containing oxidizing agent for a period of at least about two hours. The luminescent halogen-containing material has a composition other than (i) A.sub.x[MF.sub.y]:Mn.sup.4+, where A is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, or a combination thereof; M is Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Nb, Ta, Bi, Gd, or a combination thereof; x is the absolute value of the charge of the [MF.sub.y] ion; and y is 5, 6 or 7; (ii) Zn.sub.2[MF.sub.7]:Mn.sup.4+, where M is selected from Al, Ga, In, and combinations thereof; (iii) E[MF.sub.6]:Mn.sup.4+, where E is selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, and combinations thereof; and where M is selected from Ge, Si, Sn, Ti, Zr, and combinations thereof; or (iv) Ba.sub.0.65Zr.sub.0.35F.sub.2.70:Mn.sup.4+.